Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men other than nonmelanoma skin cancer and the second most common cause of cancer deaths in American men older than 55 years of age.

About one in five men in the United States develop prostate cancer. According to the 2002 statistical reports of the American Cancer Society, it is estimated that 189,000 new cases of prostate and 30,200 deaths occur annually.

Prostate cancer rates are twice as high in African American men than in Caucasian men, and African American men are more likely to die of prostate cancer than men are in any other racial or ethnic group.

To address this issue, experts have assessed knowledge of prostate cancer and the use of prostate cancer screening services among 108 African American men.

Results showed how men were unable to answer most of the 21 questions on the test with more than 70% accuracy, although individuals younger than 40 years of age were more knowledgeable than older men.

Despite their increased risk for prostate cancer, only 47% of the men in the sample who were 40 years or older had prostate cancer screening as part of their annual physical examination.

Knowledge abut prostate cancer was found to be negatively correlated with education, income, and age. A culturally sensitive promotional campaign has been identified as an important strategy to increase awareness of the racial disparities in the incidence of prostate cancer and mortality rates.

Risk factors for prostate cancer include increasing age: the incidence of prostate cancer multiplies fast past the age of 50 years, and more than 70% of cases occur in men who are more than 65 years of age.

African American men have the highest incidence of prostate cancer in the world. Prostate cancer is common in the Unite States and northwestern Europe but is rare in Asia, Africa, Central America, and South America.

A familial predisposition may occur in 5% to 10% of cases of prostate cancer. If you have a brother or a father with prostate cancer, chances are, your risk is doubled. The risk increases further if several relatives have had prostate cancer.

Furthermore, research shows that a diet high in red meat and fat increases the risk for prostate cancer. Large-scale studies are in progress to determine if prostate cancer can be prevented by use of selected supplements or “finasteride.”

Clinical Symptoms

Cancer of the prostate in its early stages rarely produces symptoms. The symptoms that develop from urinary obstruction occur late in the disease.

Prostate cancer tends to vary in its course. If the neoplasm is large enough to encroach on the bladder neck, signs and symptoms of urinary obstruction occur; difficulty and frequency of urination, urinary retention, and decreased size and in the urinary stream.

Other symptoms may include blood in the urine or semen and painful ejaculation. Hematuria may result if the cancer invades the urethra or bladder, or both. Prostate cancer can metastasize to bone and lymph nodes.

Symptoms related to metastases include backache, hip pain, perineal and rectal discomfort, anemia, weight loss, weakness, nausea, and oliguria or decreased urine output. Unfortunately, these symptoms may be the first indications of prostate cancer.

Treatment

Treatment is based on the stage of the disease and the patient’s age and symptoms. However, since most cases of prostate cancer rarely produce symptoms, it is better to render some dietary modifications to help men pause the growth and development of the disease and stop it from becoming acute.

Hence, to prevent prostate cancer, proper nutrition and sound health regimen is needed.